AWESOME AWAITS

Monthly Archives: March 2016

We’re excited to announce that we’re expanding efforts to accommodate guests with special needs by partnering with Autism Speaks, the world’s leading autism science and advocacy organization, to make our kid-centric theme park a more welcoming place for guests with autism.

LEGOLAND® Florida Resort lit its whimsical entrance arch with blue spotlights in honor of World Autism Awareness Day, part of the Autism Speaks “Light It Up Blue” campaign.

Working closely with Autism Speaks, we recently installed large panels of hands-on, sensory-stimulating activities in a quiet space inside the theme park, the first of several planned projects designed to make LEGOLAND® Florida Resort a more autism-friendly destination for children and families.

Under the partnership, Autism Speaks staff members and volunteers will consult on the development and installation of “quiet rooms” and other resort facilities designed to meet the needs of guests with autism. The organization also will help LEGOLAND Florida Resort create online “social stories” that will provide illustrated walkthroughs of our attractions, shows and other guest amenities, and will consult on other autism-friendly initiatives such as a park map designed for guests with special needs and possible revisions to our existing Guests with Disabilities Guide.

In honor of World Autism Awareness Day, observed on April 2, we’re participating in the Autism Speaks “Light It Up Blue” campaign by shining blue spotlights on our whimsical LEGOLAND Florida entrance arch. Each year, iconic landmarks, skyscrapers, schools, businesses and homes across the globe unite by shining bright blue lights in honor of the millions of individuals and families affected by autism.

Earlier today, LEGOLAND® Florida Resort revealed exclusive details about an unprecedented slate of projects that will deliver additional on-site accommodations, an immersive new theme park land with a cutting-edge, interactive attraction, the first-ever expansion of our water park, a new, action-packed “4D” theatrical attraction and an all-new summertime event filled with fireworks and special entertainment, giving guests even more reasons to play — and stay — at the place #BuiltForKids:

LEGOLAND Beach Retreat – opening mid-2017

This whimsically themed vacation resort combines the fun of surf, sand and sun with the creativity of LEGO® on a picturesque site next to Lake Dexter, adjacent to the theme park. Distinguished by a colorful LEGO lighthouse, the village-style, lakefront resort will feature 83 single-story duplex units, offering 166 separate accommodations that sleep up to five.

Designed with the same combination of imagination and kid-centric detail that made the 10-month-old LEGOLAND Hotel an immediate hit, the all-new LEGOLAND Beach Retreat offers a great way for larger families and friends to vacation together. Amenities will include a themed pool, a sandy play area, a buffet-style restaurant and more.

LEGO NINJAGO® World – opening early 2017

Inspired by the popular series of LEGO building sets and the long-running TV show “LEGO NINJAGO: Masters of Spinjitzu,” this all-new, fully immersive theme park land invites guests to step into a magical, martial arts kingdom where they’ll experience a first-of-its-kind attraction that blends eye-popping, 3D computer animation, “4D” atmospheric effects and groundbreaking technology by Montreal-based Triotech.

On LEGO NINJAGO The Ride, up to four guests per vehicle blast animated fireballs, lightning, shockwaves and ice using nothing more than their hands as they travel through dojos mastering their skills before teaming up to defeat a powerful villain. Riders collect points and scores are displayed when each quest is complete. The thrilling attraction is the epicenter of a new area featuring multiple hands-on, interactive experiences that will hone kids’ physical skills like NINJAGO heroes Kai, Jay, Cole, Zane and Nya, before their ultimate test on LEGO NINJAGO The Ride.

Creative Cove featuring Build-A-Boat – now open

A fun expansion area at LEGOLAND Water Park adds a brand-new attraction, Build-A-Boat, where kids can create and race LEGO watercraft through fast-flowing rivers alongside cheering crowds in a setting inspired by the popular LEGO City Coast Guard sets. Nearby, the existing Imagination Station lets little ones build and play with colorful DUPLO® bricks in a water-filled activity center. Additional dining offerings, increased seating capacity and complimentary Wi-Fi throughout the entire water park round out the all-new offerings for 2016.

“LEGO NEXO KNIGHTS™ 4D: The Book of Creativity” – opening May 26, 2016

Set in the futuristic Kingdom of Knighton, this all-new theatrical attraction pits five young knights against the evil Jestro and his sidekick, the Book of Monsters, in a battle for control of a rare book of magic that gives its owner tremendous power. Based on the new LEGO series of building sets and the just-launched TV show, the 12½-minute, immersive experience combines 3D computer animation with “4D,” real-world effects that bring the high-tech action bursting off the screen and into the audience.

LEGOLAND Night Lights – Summer 2016

The resort will debut its latest all-new event in June, a celebration of summertime fun featuring extended park hours, meet-and-greet opportunities with favorite LEGO characters, exclusive opportunities to build alongside LEGO Master Model Builders and a spectacular, brick-tacular NINJAGO fireworks display that will light the night above Lake Eloise with brilliant colors and triumphant music. Held exclusively at LEGOLAND Florida Resort, the party is included with park admission and will take place every Saturday and Sunday from June 18 to July 31.

Joining us for the official christening ceremony was Brickbeard the pirate, who knows a thing or two about boats. Take a look:

Kids can customize their boats in endless ways with bins full of LEGO bricks.

Build-A-Boat lets kids design, customize and race LEGO watercraft down rushing rivers on a winding water table inspired by the LEGO City Coast Guard sets. Grab a boat hull, customize it with bins of LEGO bricks and race against other kids from one of four launch chutes.

After the grand opening ceremony, special activities and games will offer a splash of extra excitement all weekend long. Challenge friends to a jump rope competition or see how many times you can swing a hula hoop. Play with a giant parachute or find out how low you can go during limbo. It’s all happening Saturday and Sunday only and is included with water park admission.

Take lots of photos of your splash-tacular fun and share them on social media with the complimentary Wi-Fi now available throughout the entire water park — another great perk introduced this year.

While supplies last, pick up your exclusive LEGO brick commemorating LEGOLAND Water Park in 2016. We have two designs to choose from.

Make sure to grab a limited-edition LEGO brick commemorating the 2016 water park season this weekend! Two different designs are available and only will be available while supplies last on Saturday and Sunday near the entrance of LEGOLAND Water Park.

The best way to let your imagination soar all season long at Creative Cove is with an Annual Pass. Enjoy endless opportunities to splash in the water park and play in the theme park for a full year with an Awesome Pass.

Of all the offbeat roles actor Nick Offerman has played in his career, one of the most memorable surely must be MetalBeard, the craggy, swaggering pirate made of more than 200 LEGO pieces in Warner Bros.’ smash-hit “The LEGO® Movie™.”

Recently, we asked Offerman for his thoughts about returning to the role in an all-new story created for the LEGOLAND® theme parks and LEGOLAND Discovery Centers.

Here’s what he had to say about playing MetalBeard in “The LEGO Movie 4D A New Adventure” for writer-director Rob Schrab, who’s now at work directing “The LEGO Movie Sequel,” due in 2018.

MetalBeard is designed with more than 200 actual LEGO pieces.

Q: What was your reaction when you were asked to voice MetalBeard again for the LEGOLAND attraction?

“I sincerely love voicing MetalBeard for the LEGO projects, as it reminds me of the animated characters of my youth, like Popeye and Grape Ape and ‘The Flintstones.’ ”

Q: What was it like working with Rob Schrab and the team behind the attraction?

“I have worked with Rob on ‘Childrens Hospital’ and ‘Parks and Recreation,’ so it was like a nice reunion of old pals from summer camp. We just tried to make each other laugh with silly renderings of dead-serious piratey mayhem.”

Q: If you were to create your own version of MetalBeard, what kinds of items would you have attached to your minifigure?

The sprawling Kennedy Space Center model has been a favorite of our guests since the park opened, with its LEGO-built replicas of NASA’s iconic Rocket Garden, the mammoth Vehicle Assembly Building and Launch Complex 39, which sent the Space Shuttle orbiters rocketing into low Earth orbit for more than three decades.

For more than four years, a countdown clock in the Miniland model re-created the excitement of a shuttle launch multiple times per day, with dramatic, Mission Control-style narration followed by puffs of smoke… and nothing more. Despite the 3-2-1 countdown, the shuttle model never budged.

Until now.

Jimmie Curby, our Model Shop’s animator, recently spent about a week gathering the necessary materials to make the model finally match guests’ expectations, using a four-inch air cylinder and control valve to lift the shuttle two feet in the air over and over again. The challenge, Jimmie said, was adding the animation to an existing model without compromising its look or destroying its structure.

The result is a terrific blend of imagination and ingenuity and a great demonstration of the passion our Model Citizens have for delivering a great guest experience.